Ecological Networks: Creating landscapes for people and wildlife

摘要

It is widely recognised that there is extensive and continuing decline of biological and landscape diversity within the European Union. The impact of this loss is seen in the increased fragmentation and isolation of landscape features, which in turn inhibit the ecological functioning of landscapes. In 1996, Cheshire County Council, the University of Salford, English Nature and Liverpool John Moores University began a project to address this important environmental problem. They began to explore and develop ideas that were directed towards the creation of an Ecological Network for the County of Cheshire. Importantly, the Ecological Network being developed is seen as a targeting mechanism. The approach is to provide a framework that allows for the integration of environmental issues into land use planning and management by targeting actions and scarce resources. It will not designate new areas for special protection; there will be no additional level of over-arching landscape or wildlife designations. Between 1996 and 1999, ideas were developed that became fundamental to an application for support made to the European Commission's Life Environment Programme in 1999. The European Commission agreed to support the project, now called the Life econet Project, which aims to demonstrate the applicability of the techniques developed in Cheshire to other regions and subregions within the European Union. The development of integrated solutions to environmental problems is important and is likely to become increasingly common. The context of the Life econet project is described, along with the techniques being used and the anticipated outcomes. The relevance of this approach can then be considered by other professional ecologists and conservation workers.